Billy Wilton

Funeral services for longtime De Baca County rancher, Billy Wilton will be held at 10am Friday, July 3, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Rev. Mike Stahl and Rev. Monty Leavell officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Tate Armstrong, Steve Blaylock, Ray Drake, Cody Jay, John Jay, and Wyatt McNeil. Visitation hours will be Thursday from 1pm to 6pm at the funeral home and Friday from 9am to 10am at the church. Billy Wilton, 91 passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at his ranch home south of Fort Sumner. He was born February 5, 1924 in Eldorado, Schleicher County, Texas to the home of Thomas Hampton and Annie (Braley) Wilton. He attended and graduated from Eldorado High School, then attended Sul Ross University for one year before attending San Angelo Business School in San Angelo, TX. Billy was drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 2nd Battalion, 345th infantry. He was a member of a crew that towed an antitank gun. He served in the European Theater and participated in the Battle of The Bulge. Billy was honorably discharged on December 7, 1945. Following his honorable discharge, Billy ranched in Tahoka, TX for one year before moving to the ranch south of Fort Sumner where he has ranched since 1947. Billy married Betty Lee Baker on November 14, 1955 at the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner. Billy was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, a past member of the Fort Sumner Mounted Patrol, and was one of the "Gators" at the Salt Cedar Country Club where he enjoyed golfing with his friends. He was a lifetime member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, NM Cattle Growers Association, and Farm Bureau. He was a self taught calf roper, enjoyed team roping, bowling, and playing pool. Billy is preceded in death by his parents. A loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend he will be missed by his family. Survivors include his wife Betty Wilton of Fort Sumner, four children, two sons Mike Wilton (Diannie) of Lakeside, AZ, and Tom Bob Wilton (Kristin) of Fort Sumner, two daughters Donna Wilton Jay (Benjie) of Muleshoe, TX and Lee Ann Wilton Armstrong (Scott) of Perkins, OK, one sister Maxine Wilton Page of San Angelo, TX, 10 grandchildren Amanda Luptak (Derek) of Show Low, AZ, Morgan Wilton of Lakeside, AZ, Valerie McNeil (Wyatt) of Hobbs, NM, Cody Jay of Burleson, TX, John Jay (Melissa) of Muleshoe, TX, Amber Jay of Paris, TX, Tate Armstrong of Perkins, OK, Allison Wilton, Abby Wilton, and Jordan Wilton of Fort Sumner along with seven great-grandchildren. Other survivors include two nieces Mary Ann Blaylock (Steve) of Midland, TX and Martha Sue Oliver (Richey) of San Angelo, TX along with a host of other family and many friends and good neighbors. The family requests memorials in memory of Billy Wilton to The First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 410, Ft. Sumner, the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Ft. Sumner, NM 88119 or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com